Typically when a new Android statue arrives on Google’s campus, it’s coupled with an official announcement of the new version of Android. We’ve seen the Jelly Bean statue as it arrives, the Ice Cream Sandwich, Honeycomb, Gingerbread, and Froyo statues too, all around the time that the Android team drops new code on us. Today’s statue included no such party, though the Android community manager that posted it sure teased the hell out of us.

The above pictured was posted to G+ this afternoon with the quote “A new version of Android has been released!” So not fair.

As you can see, the statue is of Bugdroid as a fully chromed out beast. Does that mean that Chrome and Android are finally joining forces! Uhhh, probably not, at least for now. It’s more than likely just a really cool metal Android statue that we all wish was on our front lawn. Google is a sneaky bunch, though, so who knows what the future may bring.

It’s attached to building 45 if you are in the neighborhood and want to check it out.

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GNex

Now we wait for keelex to post about that one website selling a “limited” supply of stupid chrome andy androids for $39.99 a piece. then a week later he’ll be giving one away as long as you facebook, twitter and + his stuff

TylerChappell

Maybe it just simply means that Chrome for Android will finally be caught up to it’s desktop counterpart and will now be much more reliable and smoother? Maybe Android IS the future of Chrome OS? Let’s face if, the two have been on a collision course for quite sometime, if one of them is going to stay around and reign supreme, it’ll be our beloved Andy.

IanAndersonLOL

I don’t think it’s related to Android. Building 46 has had a chrome Andy for a long time(mid-summer was the first time I ever went to 46, but I’m sure it’s older than that), now. Both aren’t Android related buildings.

Therats

That’s just weird

Philip A. Kaiser

Whoever took that picture made important enough to include the reflection on the other building. Andy isn’t centered and the adjacent wall is photoed just right to make it appear seamless on the edges make it a perfect reflection. Look at the roofline, it is perfectly lined up. I have no idea what that could mean, but it seems pretty intentional. Otherwise, why not center Andy in the frame?

MikeKorby

As in.. ChromeOS mirrored onto your Android device?
basically, doing what Microsoft has tried to do with Windows 8/Windows Phone 8?
Which would be an extremely interesting tactic:Microsoft has the massive desktop marketshare paired with weak mobile, whereas google has the massive mobile market, yet little influence in the desktop/laptop market…

Philip A. Kaiser

You never know. I am just glad you didn’t ask me if i was wearing a tinfoil hat. Lil
Google is very deliberate in their hints and gestures. To have that photo configured the way it is, i don’t find it as circumstance.

Asuriyan

I am obligated to mention that that is made of galvanized steel or aluminum, not chrome.

Just sayin’.

paul_cus

That would be a great wallpaper.

William_Morris

Perhaps a sign of the merger of the of Chrome and Android operating systems as was teased a while back.

Keith Sumner

That’s definitely polished stainless steel, not chrome. Just saying.

TheOgler

Chrome OS or…ABCDEFGHIJ…Kiss? Would Hershey start a patent war?

e_droid

Chrome OS + Android – let it begin.

ddevito

Everything Google does has a reason behind it. everything.

kane

It should be steel not chrome. Making Android strong enough to wield off attacks from enemies. It should also signify a move away from the dessert based names.

Truelitistnot

It means the dudes at google spent a à#&* load of money on a statue that won’t rust and attatched it to the side of a building to look like an android breaking free. Android breaking free.

Although not a new version of Chrome as such, Chrome Android 25 is a big thing for Google, as it will brings many performance enhancements, including the smooth method of scrolling from AOSP browser, these features are not in the latest Chrome Android beta.

The have spent many months unforking Chrome Android back into the open-source Chromium project, and allowing all platforms to be updated at the same time. In February Chrome 25 releases to stable, this statue is of a Chrome Android, a coincidence?

Philip A. Kaiser

Think you are close except this is on building 45, not 25.

Anil Reddy

Maybe people can connect and control everything on their phone through Chrome browser!(calls, messages, install/uninstall apps, etc). So Chrome becomes a web-based Android OS!!

Of course there is already the Airdroid app that does this, but something bigger, integrated and neater interface coming from Google would be amazing!

JoshGroff

Yeah it would. Manage my phone from my tablet and vice versa, or both from my laptop.

What if it’s Chrome OS for Android?!! exactly like the announced Ubuntu for Android but when you dock your phone/tablet or connect it to a screen it boots up Chrome OS!

rcpa

This is what I want and what is see is the most likely to happen over the next couple of years. Maybe the time is now.

boogie_monster

I agree, but still I’m more excited about Ubuntu for Android to happen, because for what I do Ubuntu makes more sense than Chrome, but still I love to see a Google merger!

rcpa

These days, with wireless data everywhere, and speeds getting faster all the time, I think thin clients are the future. Most things you do these days could be done with a thin client attached to a server. Even games are heading that way with that graphics rendering server farm that NVidia was showing off and their Project Shield which could play games hosted and rendered on a PC.

John Kappedahl-O’Brien

maybe has to do with x phone 🙂

Aaron

If they really are combing the two, maybe Android is coming to the desktop? Wishful thinking.

Android versions are named after desserts, Chromium is toxic and carcinogenic… definitely not a good idea xD.

Fawzi94

Android Krome 5.0

Buckoman

But I like Kettlecorn :/

Christopher Riner

the (K)101 arndroid: Cybernetic Open source edition. Living code under OEM exoskeleton.

jasaero

That was my thought. And Chrome OS DIES with it as Android starts to target laptops with some more desktop oriented 3rd UI option in the builds. Wonder if there is Chrome OS code and capability that might be merged into Android also somehow??

Butters619

Chrome OS just merged with Android to create Android: Chrome.

Dan

I hope this means something

Will

The link’s been pulled…or there’s too much traffic.

Someone spoke when they weren’t supposed to, perhaps?

Mike Corbett

it is still there. i found it on his page

bydavidrosen

My dream device. A Chromebook that turns into an Android tablet… Make it happen Google!

michael arazan

Touchscreen chromebook that has the display that turns 180 and closes into a tablet

capecodcarl

Why not just get rid of ChromeOS altogether and have it boot into Android? The Asus Transformers have already shown Android works fine with a keyboard and trackpad interface.

JBartcaps

Because i love me some ChromesOS! still rock my Chrome book.

bydavidrosen

2 reasons. 1) flash. 2) the 100% stability that comes with chrome os. i love android, don’t get me wrong, and definitely want my next tablet to be android, but even my galaxy s3 with its awesome specs and everything has occasional lag, slowdown, blah blah blah. would love to be able to just do chrome os when i’m just doing web based stuff and can let android rest for a little bit.

Jeremy Lukan

Chrome OS?

Radgatt

I wonder how much that thing weighs?!

Murphy

Take my money!

Timothy McGovern

How is this at all relevant?

Justin Winker

I think he wants to buy the statue. I honestly would go as far as buying a mini-statue of that, but a full-size one would most likely be WAY too expensive.

michael arazan

Surprised that don’t have a Bug droid that works like R2D2 roaming around the campus